Packaging cards today

I've been just overwhelmed with the generousity of our local (and not-so local) crafters! I've spent the entire morning today packaging up cards for BC Children's Hospital (here in Vancouver) and to send to Lynnette for Stollery Children's Hospital (in Edmonton). I think more time was spent ooh'ing and aah'ing over the various cards then was spent in getting them ready to send out! I have to thank the following people (whose names have also been added to the "Special Thanks" page) for their contributions:

• Diane G
• Jessie
• Laurie
• Margaret
• Naomi
• Rita F
• Sherryl
• Thanh V.

Each of you are helping to put smiles on the faces of some very special kids! Thank you!!!

Thank you, Jessie!

I dropped in at my LSS (local scrapbook store), Cherish the Thought, on Friday intending to pick up one roll of tape but instead I picked up a whole lot more! While there, I asked the store owner, Jessie, if she would mind taking a few of the Send A Smile 4 Kids (Canada) business cards to hand out to customers - well, she agreed and then before I knew it, she had pulled out 75 cards to donate! Just take a look at the wonderful variety of cards - there are Christmas, birthday, and lots of blank cards too (which are just perfect for so many different purposes). Thank you, Jessie!

SAS4Kids is heading over the Rockies

A new hospital to support 
I am absolutely thrilled to announce that Send A Smile 4 Kids is expanding over the Rocky Mountains into Alberta. Starting right away, you can send cards to Lynnette who will be delivering them to Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta.

SAS4K (Canada) c/o Lynnette Pinno
Box 1256
Camrose, Alberta
T4V 1X2

Current need
We are currently gathering Christmas cards & gift tags and there is a continuing need for blank (any occasion) and congratulation cards. I know that the rainy weather here in British Columbia has me wanting to craft more - my friends and families may end up getting store-bought this year but the kids will be getting handmade!

Thankful

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada and I am thankful for so many things - my family, friends, pets and the wonderful community of crafters that I'm part of. I've just finished bundling up the latest packet of cards for the BC Children's Hospital ... check it out!

59 handmade greeting cards on their way to brighten the day of kids and their families. And it's due to the efforts of local (and not so local) crafters that this is happening. This batch includes a bunch of Halloween cards as well as a good assortment of everyday (thinking of you, hello, blank) cards.

The focus is now turning to Christmas. The deadline for getting those Christmas cards and tags to me will be December 3rd. The collection has already started - this past weekend I attended the BC Crop for Kids and after talking about SAS4K one woman came over and donated these 3 cards on the spot. I didn't get her name but I hope she sees this post and knows that her spontaneous generosity is greatly appreciated!

Thanks for visiting and remember to send in those cards!

You all rock!

I have just been overwhelmed by the wonderful messages I've received since the announcement of the partnership between my little project and Send A Smile 4 Kids. I've been walking about 2 feet off the ground because of the welcomes, but I hit the clouds yesterday when I opened my mailbox.

Thank you, Diane for sending 24 cards for the kids! I just had to take a picture to share with everyone.

Some VERY exciting news

As a crafter, I am frequently inspired by the projects I see out in blogland and I must admit to being an avid scrap-lifter of ideas and designs. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that Cards for Kids(Canada) started because of someone else’s idea.

When I first heard about Send A Smile 4 Kids, my initial thought was "what a great idea, I'll send some of my cards". My next thought was "Why spend money on postage to the U.S. when there's a Children's Hospital right here in Vancouver that would appreciate cards". I suggested setting up a Canadian branch of SAS4K but the timing wasn’t right; so a quick email to B.C. Children's Hospital and a follow-up telephone conversation and Cards for Kids was born.

I kept in touch with SAS4K though in hopes that one day we could partner together. And, yay, that day has arrived!

Effective today, Cards for Kids has officially become Send A Smile 4 Kids (Canada)!!! The Send A Smile 4 Kids team, led by the amazing Karen, has been so welcoming and have even invited me to be a guest designer on their next challenge. I’m so excited to be part of this wonderful charity and look forward to sending a lot more smiles to kids in the U.S. and Canada! You'll notice there is a new badge on the sidebar - please feel free to grab it and share on your blog.

And to close off, I need to say thank you to all the amazing people who have already heard about the partnership and have offered their welcomes. I am so incredibly pleased and proud to be a part of this community!!! Thank you all ... and welcome to Canada!

Some Halloween fun

Just a quick post to share a few of the Halloween cards that are ready to send off to the BC Children's Hospital. I'll be taking the next batch of cards over in early October so that they can be distributed for Halloween. Cards are needed for all ages of kids.